Oxford United 2 Stevenage Borough 1

In a rough, at times nasty, game Oxford came out on top to retain their unbeaten record against Stevenage and condemn Borough to their first defeat of the season. United scored a goal in each half and were good value for the win, only conceding a goal to, inevitably, Yemi Odubade in second half stoppage time.

Alfie Potter gave Oxford the lead midway through the first half after Ashley Bayes had done well to get down to his right to turn away a fine shot from Kevin Sandwith from an Adam Murray free kick. From the corner James Constable's effort was blocked but returned into the mixer by Dannie Bulman; Mark Creighton headed down for Potter to control the ball on his chest before turning to smash it past Bayes. Six minutes before the break Constable charged down a Bayes clearance and the loose ball span into space. Potter was the first to it and only needed to sidefoot into the empty net to double the lead, but instead he spooned his shot high into the East Stand.

Ryan Clarke was forced to brilliantly keep out a Chris Beardsley shot when the forward, looking well offside, seemed certain to score, but that was the closest the visitors came before United scored the second. Constable received the ball on the edge of the area and did well to turn and cross. The ball fell to Murray who planted it beyond the reach of Bayes. A superb chip from a Stevenage forward rebounded from the bar, but generally the Oxford centre-halves of Creighton and substitute Luke Foster, on for Rhys Day who was injured by Beardsley in the fourth minute, stood firm. Yemi's goal came after United's defence was caught uncharacteristically napping, with Beadsley scuffing his shot across the face of goal to give Yemi, on as a substitute, an easy tap in.

This was a scrappy game, not helped by a referee clearly out of his depth, but United showed that they can win ugly as well as win playing decent football. There were times when they allowed themselves to be intimidated by the visitors' tactics, but generally composed themselves well. The side now has a week to rest before another testing game, at AFC Wimbledon.

For the first time this season, Chris Wilder named an unchanged starting eleven. It didn't take long for the first change to be made, after Beardsley went in late on Day as the defender cleared following a Clarke save. Day injured his medial ligaments and had to be replaced by Foster. With seven minutes remaining Al Rhodes came on for Potter, and in the final minute of stoppage time Adam Chapman replaced Murray.

Today's inept official was A Bennett, taking charge of his first, and hopefully last, Oxford game. He was clearly not up to the occasion and made several poor decisions that did favours to neither side. As well as missing the Beardsley foul that cost Day his place, he also missed a blatant bodycheck by former-U Jon Ashton on Constable in the Stevenage area, eventually booking both players despite obviously having no idea what had happened. In the second half he allowed play to continue after another late challenge by Ashton on Murray, which would have resulted in a second yellow had the official not bottled it. Later he also missed a late challenge by Bulman on a Stevenage player just outside the Oxford penalty area. Very poor. The attendance today was 5,775 with an astonishing 224 from Hertfordshire.

The three points keeps United at the top of the Conference, now one point clear of Mansfield Town, who beat second-bottom Ebbsfleet United 3-0 with Rob Duffy opening the scoring. Stevenage drop to 13th place. Luton Town remain third after they were held by Chester City, the game at Kenilworth Road ending goalless to leave Chester on -24 points at the foot of the table. United's next opponents, AFC Wimbledon, have climbed to fourth place after an excellent 1-0 win at Altrincham, who have dropped to fifth.

Kettering Town are now sixth after winning 2-1 at Wrexham, while the surprise result of the day occurred at seventh-placed Crawley Town, who were beaten 4-1 by 18th-placed Gateshead. Histon are ninth after their 2-0 win over Salisbury City, and 10th-placed Cambridge United were held to a goalless draw at Tamworth.

Forest Green Rovers are still second from bottom without a point after losing 4-2 at Rushden & Diamonds, in eighth place, for whom Craig Farrell scored the first. Hayes & Yeading have climbed to fourth bottom thanks to a 1-1 draw at home to 17th-placed York City, while Barrow are fifth from bottom after losing 2-1 at Eastbourne Borough. Grays Athletic, in 19th place, lost 3-1 at home to Kidderminster Harriers. [@news]2545[/@news] [@opponent]stevenage borough[/@opponent]